Chapter 59:Heaven Fears Me

Merchants, mercenaries, smugglers, wandering cultivators, bounty hunters, and spies from countless factions gathered here every day.

Nobody trusted anybody.

Yet today the atmosphere was different.

Ever since news of Green Forest's destruction spread throughout Jianghu, discussions about it had become unavoidable.

Inside one of the largest restaurants in the city, eight young geniuses sat around a large wooden table.

Five Dragons.

Three Phoenixes.

The future pillars of the Murim Alliance.

Their expressions were grave.

Even the food placed before them had gone untouched.

One of the Dragons finally broke the silence.

"Are you still thinking about what that bandit said?"

The Phoenix sitting by the window slowly nodded.

"Yes."

Another Dragon scoffed.

"You're overthinking it."

"The man clearly lost his mind."

"How could one person wipe out Green Forest by himself?"

The others nodded in agreement.

Green Forest wasn't some insignificant bandit camp.

It possessed enough strength to rival a proper sect.

Thousands of bandits.

Dozens of experts.

A leader standing at the peak of the Transcendent Realm.

Destroying such a force alone was ridiculous.

Another Phoenix spoke.

"Exactly."

"Even our alliance treated Green Forest as a troublesome thorn."

"For one person to annihilate them all..."

She shook her head.

"Impossible."

Laughter spread across the table.

Only the first Phoenix remained silent.

Her eyes narrowed.

"If the man truly lost his mind, then that's fine."

"But if he didn't..."

The table grew quiet.

She slowly continued.

"Then we're looking at a monster beyond our imagination."

One Dragon leaned back.

"You make it sound like some legendary senior appeared."

"Figures capable of destroying sects exist."

She nodded.

"They do."

"But according to that survivor..."

"He was our age."

Silence.

"...and only in the Transcendent Realm."

The laughter stopped.

Nobody knew how to respond.

Finally the first Dragon waved his hand dismissively.

"We'll report it."

"But don't expect anybody to take it seriously."

The Phoenix frowned.

Yet she said nothing more.

Because they weren't here for Green Forest.

That mission had merely been an excuse.

Their true objective was something far greater.

The Sword Saint's Secret Realm.

A place capable of changing the fate of entire sects.

Just then—

A loud crash echoed from downstairs.

The group instinctively looked over the railing.

A commotion had broken out on the first floor.

Several local thugs surrounded a lone young man.

The moment the Phoenix saw him—

Her eyes widened.

Black clothes.

Crimson eyes.

Carefree posture.

A chicken leg hanging from his mouth.

A bottle of liquor in one hand.

Rocking lazily in his chair as though the world itself bored him.

Lucifer Morningstar.

One thug slammed his hand onto the table.

"Oi."

"This territory belongs to us."

"If we tell you to move, you move."

Lucifer didn't even look at him.

He calmly took another bite.

Then replied.

"Dogs have territories."

He pointed at himself.

"Wherever I stand becomes mine."

The restaurant instantly fell silent.

The thugs froze.

Then their faces twisted in rage.

One stepped forward.

"Our boss is a Nascent Peak expert."

"You should kneel and beg forgiveness while we're still being polite."

Lucifer finally looked up.

His eyes were completely devoid of fear.

"Then tell your boss to come personally."

The thug sneered.

"You got a death wish?"

Lucifer smiled.

"No."

"I just don't like barking dogs."

The entire restaurant sucked in a breath.

The Phoenix immediately stood.

This was going to end badly.

Very badly.

Before she could reach the stairs—

One thug attacked.

"Die!"

His fist shot toward Lucifer's head.

Lucifer sighed.

"Didn't your mother teach you not to disturb someone while they're eating?"

BOOM!

The thug flew across the restaurant.

Tables shattered.

Walls cracked.

The man's body embedded itself into a pillar.

Dead.

The room froze.

Nobody even saw the attack.

The remaining thugs turned pale.

Fear instantly replaced arrogance.

One hurriedly bowed.

"We—we apologize!"

"We didn't know Senior was here!"

Lucifer swallowed another bite.

Then smiled.

"Wait."

The thugs froze.

"You disturbed my meal."

"You ruined the restaurant."

"So pay compensation."

The thugs looked around.

Nothing was damaged near Lucifer.

One carefully said,

"But... the furniture isn't broken."

Lucifer blinked.

"Oh."

"You're right."

Then—

SCRAAAAATCH.

His finger casually carved a deep groove through the table.

Wood splintered apart.

Lucifer nodded.

"There."

"Now it's broken."

The entire restaurant stared.

Speechless.

The thug almost cried.

"Who's the robber here?!"

Lucifer leaned forward.

"If you don't want to pay..."

A sinister smile spread across his face.

"I'll collect using your bones."

Within seconds every thug emptied their pouches.

Spiritual coins.

Medicine.

Treasures.

Everything.

Lucifer happily stuffed them away.

"Hehehe."

"Thanks for the donation."

The thugs fled like frightened rabbits.

The restaurant owner looked as though he wanted to cry.

Lucifer tossed him several coins.

"My bill."

"And a tip."

The owner forced a smile.

Inside his mind—

Please never come back.

Ever.

The Phoenix finally reached the first floor.

Only to discover Lucifer was gone.

Vanished.

As though he had never been there.

One Dragon approached.

"Who were you looking for?"

She hesitated.

Then shook her head.

"No one."

Night fell.

The Dragons and Phoenixes departed for their mission.

Unaware of a figure sitting on the rooftop above them.

Lucifer.

Hidden completely.

Sin of Sloth devoured his presence.

Even eight geniuses failed to notice him.

Below, their conversation continued.

Lucifer listened carefully.

Then grinned.

"A secret realm."

Chirin appeared beside him.

"The Sword Saint's inheritance?"

Lucifer nodded.

"The real reason they're here."

A dangerous smile appeared.

"This should be fun."

Back at the inn—

Chirin sat on the windowsill.

"So many cultivators gathered for one inheritance."

Lucifer lay on the bed.

"That's how secret realms work."

"Treasure attracts greed."

"Greed attracts idiots."

"And idiots create opportunities."

Chirin rolled her eyes.

"Are you interested in the Sword Saint's scripture?"

Lucifer immediately shook his head.

"No."

"Then why go?"

A grin appeared.

"Experience points."

"..."

"Of course."

The next morning—

The sky shattered.

CRACK.

Space itself split apart.

A colossal rift appeared above the city.

Ancient energy flooded the heavens.

The Sword Saint's Secret Realm had opened.

Countless cultivators surged forward.

Sect Elders.

Patriarchs.

Geniuses.

Rogues.

Mercenaries.

All diving toward the opportunity of a lifetime.

Lucifer stretched.

Then smiled.

"Let's do some carnage."

The moment he entered—

The slaughter began.

For three days.

Three nights.

Without rest.

Without sleep.

Without mercy.

While others struggled against Transcendent beasts—

Lucifer hunted them for sport.

Dismantle.

Cleave.

Raging Tempest.

Severance.

Bodies piled up.

Mountains of corpses formed.

Rivers of blood flowed through forests.

His laughter echoed endlessly.

"Hahahahaha!"

"This is why I love secret realms!"

"Killing is legal!"

Every death increased his Karma Points.

The numbers climbed higher and higher.

Thousands.

Tens of thousands.

Hundreds of thousands.

When his qi ran low—

Sin of Gluttony devoured everything around him.

Beasts.

Energy.

Remnants.

Nothing escaped.

Three days later—

Lucifer finally stopped.

Not because he was tired.

Not because he was injured.

But because the points had slowed.

He sat atop a mountain of corpses.

Thinking.

"I need stronger prey."

Unbeknownst to him—

Dozens of greedy eyes watched from the shadows.

"There."

"He's finally resting."

A group of cultivators emerged.

Their leader smiled greedily.

"Three days of nonstop fighting."

"He must be exhausted."

"Kill him."

"Take everything."

One by one they stepped forward.

"Brother."

"You look tired."

"Why don't you hand over your belongings?"

Lucifer slowly raised his head.

Then smiled.

"So that's why you took so long."

Another laughed.

"Give us your treasures."

"And we'll let you leave alive."

Lucifer stood.

"I'll make a better offer."

"What?"

"Drop everything."

"And I might give you a painless death."

Silence.

Then laughter.

"Kill him!"

The group charged.

Lucifer sighed.

"Painful death it is."

Dismantle.

A flash.

Screams.

Arms fell.

Blood sprayed.

Every attacker collapsed.

Alive.

But unable to fight.

Unable to crawl.

Unable to escape.

Terror filled their eyes.

Lucifer slowly walked forward.

"You know..."

"I've always wondered."

He grabbed the strongest by the head.

"What happens if I use Gluttony on a living person?"

The man's face turned white.

"No—"

Lucifer smiled.

"Let's find out."

His hand tightened.

"Absorb."

The scream that followed echoed throughout the forest.

The man's qi.

Life force.

Vitality.

Everything.

Was devoured.

His body aged hundreds of years in seconds.

Skin wrinkled.

Bones crumbled.

Then—

Dust.

Nothing remained.

Lucifer inhaled deeply.

His eyes brightened.

"Oh."

A grin spread across his face.

"This is useful."

The remaining cultivators broke.

Some cursed him.

Some threatened him.

Some begged.

Lucifer listened quietly.

Then laughed.

"You humans are funny."

"When you're stronger, you bully others."

"When you're weaker, you threaten them."

"When that fails, you beg."

His eyes turned cold.

"Would any of you have spared me?"

Silence.

Nobody answered.

Because everyone knew the truth.

No.

They wouldn't have.

Lucifer smiled.

"Exactly."

The massacre continued.

One after another.

Consumed.

Devoured.

Erased.

Until nothing remained.

Only silence.

And blood.

One dying cultivator used his last breath.

"Heaven... will punish you..."

Lucifer looked toward the sky.

Then laughed.

A laugh so arrogant that even the heavens seemed insulted.

"Heaven fears me."

Far deeper inside the realm—

The Eight Rising Stars finally reached the Sword Saint's Tomb.

Ancient stone gates towered before them.

Covered in runes older than kingdoms.

The air trembled.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

The Phoenix who had worried about Green Forest frowned.

"Do you feel that?"

Nobody answered.

Then—

The tomb doors slowly opened.

CREAAAAK.

Darkness greeted them.

Ancient.

Endless.

Hungry.

A chill ran down every spine.

Somewhere deep within the tomb—

Something opened its eyes.

Something that should have remained asleep forever.

And for the first time since entering the secret realm—

Even the Dragons and Phoenixes felt fear.

Meanwhile, miles away—

Lucifer suddenly stopped walking.

A grin slowly spread across his face.

"Oh?"

His crimson eyes gleamed.

"Now that's interesting."

The pressure erupting from the tomb wasn't treasure.

It wasn't inheritance.

It wasn't opportunity.

It was something far more dangerous.

And Lucifer loved dangerous things.

"Looks like the real hunt is finally beginning."